1908 Newtown mansion destroyed by suspicious blaze

NEWTOWN >> Fire officials say a large blaze that gutted a vacant mansion in Newtown built more than a century ago appears to have been intentionally set.

A resident who lives near the Castle Hill Road home, which dates to 1908 and was appraised at $1.56 million, reported a possible brush fire around 1:50 a.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters dispatched to the blaze found the 12,000-square-foot mansion fully engulfed with flames burning through the roof. Assistant Fire Chief Jason Rivera says there was no way for crews to make entry because flames were coming from every window.

An excavator was brought in to help knock down walls to fight the fire. Four of Newtown’s five fire companies responded.

The house had no electricity and was unoccupied. An investigation is ongoing.